There are different types of flavors for aquarium lighting, and depending on what you have in your tank you may need some pretty intense lighting to make sure the health of your inhabitants is always at it's best. While on our search for some aquarium lighting to purchase, we came across Aquaillumination's LED lighting system. LED's are the next best thing in aquarium lighting, they offer high PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation which is the spectral range of solar light that is needed by corals in order to grow) at lower wattage and heat levels. LED's have been growing in the aquarium field for quite some time, and now they are just getting smarter, better and longer lasting. One of the advantages to LED lighting is that you no longer need to change those bulbs out every 6 months. LED's are said to be able to last about 10 years before having to change them out.











So what makes the Aquaillumination's Vega so cool? Well aside from looking like they were designed by apple computer with it's white shiny coat (also available in black), they are jam packed with features. The AI Vega LED's allow you to control each color independently. There are 4 LED pucks that carry Cree XM-L Cool White, Cree XP-E Royal Blue, Cree XP-E Blue, OSRAM OSLON Deep Blue, Cree XP-E Green, OSRAM OSLON Deep Red. This is one of the first LED systems to incorporate colors other that white and blue. We are not to sure what value that may bring to the table, but honestly the technology hasn't been out that long and these can take years to test, but we think it looks pretty cool anyways. Check out the demo video below.

Aqua Illumination Vega





Out of the box the Aquaillumination Vega is a solid LED, the construction is impeccable and feels sturdy. The unit is heavy and feels like a quality product. The While part of the LED fixture is made of plastic while the rest is a metal heatsink to dissipate the little heat that the unit puts out. The unit also features a fan that is only enabled when the unit is hot. There are no manuals in the box except for a small insert that tells you how to turn on your LED's and also how to put them in demo mode. The Vega can be run without a controller, but we do not recommend it as it is pretty annoying to hit the button and not know what intensity the lights are on. We feel this is only to really test the unit.

In order to test the unit we also purchased the new Aquailluminations controller. The controller allows for timer control of all the colors independently as well as allowing you to set weather controls ,and lunar cycle. We love this feature because it mimics clouds passing by at random times or even thunderstorms. honestly the thunderstorms are kinda funny looking so we turned them off pretty quickly but we did like the cloud cover options. The Lunar cycle is also pretty impressive, it will dim your lights at night to mimic the moon having a higher intensity at full moon. It did take a little while to figure out how to program the unit but once you figure it out its pretty easy. The manual did not come with the controller and had to be downloaded form the Aquallumination support website.

The controller looks decent but we feel they could have done a better job. We didn't like that you must always have the controller connected to power outlet or usb port on your computer (not so wireless after all) in order for it to send controls to the LED's. If you manage to bump the controller and disconnect it, your lights will stay at whatever intensity they were when the controller was knocked off. We feel AI could improve on this by having the controller dump the configuration on the LED's and have them run on their own. Only thing is that something like this will cost the consumer more so we can see why they probably opted out. The buttons are not very user friendly and take some getting used to, but once you play with it for a good 20 minutes you should be able to get around.




The setup between the controller and the Vega was fairly simple and straight forward, all you need to do is tell the controller that it is wireless and it goes out searching for the Vega. The default setting on the controller is for it to be wired.

The Vega's do not come with any way to install them so you must purchase a stand from them. There are a few options, we decided to go for the older style tank mount since we were going to hang it in a tank with a hood. We opted for the 24" mount and cut it in half to create two stands. Since we weren't sure if we were going to keep to stay with this configuration we only purchased one set. but after installing the unit we are very happy with it and will be placing the order for the second set very soon.








Aqua Illumination New Controller




Take a look at the new mounting options. If you have existing AI Sol Blue, you can use the same mounting brackets as they are backwards compatible.

Aqua Illumination EXT Hanging Kit




Aqua Illumination EXT Rail System




All in all we are very happy with the setup and would definitely recommend it. The Vega goes for $499 and the controller will set you back another $79. You will then need to pick a mounting option which typically ranges from around $25 -$100. The savings of not having to replace the bulbs every 6 months pay off very quickly.

THE GOOD
- Good construction.
- Cheap compared to other lighting sources

THE BAD
- You have to purchase stands and controller seperatley (this could also be a good thing as it alows for flexibility)

IN THE AI VEGA BOX
- One Vega LED Light
- One Power supply
- One page manual and warranty info

IN THE AI CONTROLLER BOX
- One controller
- One Power supply
- One USB cable
- One 10' x 3.5mm cable for wired control
- One mounting kit includes Velcro and screws

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Aquaillumination

Are you still storing your dogs food in the standard dog or cat food bag it comes in? Having issues with everything in your house smelling like dog or cat food due to no good seal? Tired of lifting that heavy 50 Lb bag to feed your best friend?

My family was struggling with all of these and came across the Iris Airtight Pet Food Container. We have had the container for at least two years now and it is still proving to be one of the best purchases we have ever made for our four legged friend. The IRIS container not only keeps your food fresh but it is capable of storing an entire 50 Lb bag of food. For some time we used to keep the dog food in the utility room outside and it would always get full of ants and creepy crawlers. After we purchased the IRIS we haven't had any issues with our dog food being contaminated and having to be thrown away. The IRIS features a rubber seal that keeps your food away from harm and maintains that freshness that Fido deserves.

We recently moved our IRIS indoors after making some space in a closet and are super happy with it. The Casters are smooth and sturdy helping you push the dog food anywhere you want it to go. It even doubles as a toy for our two year old, he likes to push it around for some reason.

We highly recommend this product and are pretty sure you will love it. You can purchase your Iris Airtight Pet Food Container on Amazon for about 24.99.

So you want to get a good start on a workout program?

We gave the Ultimate Reset By Beach Body the makers of P90X a try and were amazed at the results.

I personally did the reset for 21 days. I have to admit that it was not easy getting used to the foods as I am a meat lover and this diet quickly gets you off of meat, but the results are so amazing that I must share it with you. I lost a total of 20 lbs in 21 days. That is almost 1lb per day. The best thing is how much more energy I felt and how people who didn't know I was doing the reset would ask me what I was doing.

The reset was a little pricey and the foods that you must purchase have to be purchased at stores like whole foods or the Fresh Market , but when you are done you will see that it is well worth it. I am pretty sure that you would want to continue eating the foods as many of them are actually quite tasty and satisfying. It worked out so well for me that I became a coach to promote the reset.

You can try the ultimate reset for yourself at Beach Bodys website.

I have always been a handyman around the house and I often get calls from people who need some sort of help -- whether it's installing a microwave, getting a PC built, or building a deck outside the house. I guess you can call me a jack of all trades, master of none.

I often found myself without the right tool when someone would call me to do something silly like tighten a screw. I started carrying a Swiss Army Pocket Knife Swiss Champ but lost it. After some time I found myself needing something to replace it and felt that the Swiss Army was good, but it lacked ruggedness. I then went for the Leatherman Wave Multitool, which I also lost after a couple of years of use. I finally decided I needed to replace it, but didn't go for the Wave because all my pants would get holes in the pockets since it was so heavy. So, the end result was something small and manageable.

Enter the Leatherman Micra Multitool. I wish I had gone with this one first as it has proved to be a very rugged tool for its small size. It features a nice set of scissors, a sharp small blade, tweezers, a nail file/cleaner, flat Phillips screwdriver, extra small and medium screwdriver, bottle opener, and a ruler. Best of all it fits easily in your pocket and if you attach it to your keys, you will never leave home without it.

THE GOOD
- Good construction.
- Great assortment of tools in such a small tool.
- Easy to carry anywhere you go.

THE BAD
- A bit expensive.

IN THE BOX
- One Leatherman Micra Tool.

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Leatherman

Looking for a small, yet decent set of speakers for your laptop, iPod or portable device? We recently tested the Diamond MSP100B Mini Rockers Mobile Speakers at our labs and were very impressed with the sound quality.

The speakers are shaped like a little capsule with all the cables retracting inside the unit. The capsule breaks apart and delivers a pretty crisp sound with a nice hint of bass. We were pleasantly impressed at the audio that came out of these little guys.

The unit has a universal 3.5mm audio plug. Its power output is 4W and has an internal Li-Polymer battery that will give you about 6 hours of playtime on a single charge. The speakers measure 4" x 2" and fit snugly in the included carrying case.


The Diamond Mini Rockers in Action

For around $29.99 we feel the speakers are a good buy.

THE GOOD
- Loud with good bass
- Great price

THE BAD
- Cables do not retract well
- Battery does not seem to be consumer replaceable
- Cables could be a little longer. The cable that connects the left to the right speakers are a little short for comfort.

IN THE BOX
- One set of Diamond Rockers Speakers
- USB Y-Cable for charge while listening
- User Manual
- Pouch

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Diamond

Ice cream making, like ice cream, comes in different flavors: You have manual machines, pre-frozen bowl motor-powered machines, and built in freezing mechanism. The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2 Quart ice cream maker is the pre-frozen bowl variety.

The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker allows you to create frozen yogurt, sorbet, ice cream, and gelato. For a typical ice cream, the machine will take about 30 minutes to churn your custard to tasty ice cream.

The Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker is housed in brushed stainless steel. At the top you'll find a large ingredient spout, which allows you to add your mix-ins (think crushed Oreo cookies for example) during the churning process. In the lower part of the machine is where you'll find the automatic motor unit and the space for the double-insulated 2 quart freezer bowl. Tucked away underneath the body is the power cord, which can remain hidden until it is necessary to use. We wish however, that the cord was a foot longer than it currently is. Since this is not the kind of device you keep on your counter space (it is BIG!), most of the places where you'll plug this in will be taken away by devices you use everyday. So, having a longer cord would allow easier placement on the counter. Although the device is really heavy, it is very well constructed and does not feel cheap.



To use this machine you'll need to pre-freeze the freezer bowl for at least 8 hours before, so it is always recommended with this kind of ice cream maker that you store the freezer bowl in the freezer. Heed that as a warning, if you have a small freezer, you are better off buying the one of the smaller Cuisinart ice cream makers on the market. You'll also want to prepare the custard or non-custard ice cream before hand to keep the ice cream cool during the whole process. When you are ready, you turn the unit on and pour the ice cream mix slowly into the Cuisinart.

The device is not quiet, but it is not louder than similar devices and it is the nature of a device that has a motor running through a thick liquid like this to make a certain amount of noise.



We made recipes from the included recipe book and the fabulous ice cream book Perfect Scoop: Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, and Sweet Accompaniments by David Lebovits.

If you like your ice cream smooth, rich and creamy, this machine delivers in spades. As the machine churns, the custard slowly starts thickening. You should add your mix-ins about 5 minutes before you think you'll stop churning the ice cream.

One other note about the pre-frozen bowl before we go. To clean the bowl you'll need to run it through warm water and let it sit to essentially melt before being able to freeze it again. If you plan to make back-to-back ice cream, you should buy a separate bowl.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker over other pre-frozen bowl home ice cream markers -- specially when you can find it online for less than $70 dollars.


Watch our video review:




THE GOOD
- Makes soft creamy ice cream
- Good built quality
- Great price

THE BAD
- Heavy
- Long re-freezing times for the bowl
- The power cord is too small

IN THE BOX
- The Cuisinart ICE-30BC Ice Cream Maker
- 2 Quart Freezer Bowl
- Recipe Book

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Cuisinart

The iDesign Cube Clock iPod/iPhone Radio is an aesthetically pleasing iPod alarm clock/radio, but the devil, as with all electronics, is in the details.

For starters, the iDesign Cube Clock Radio and iPod player has a sophisticated look with a slightly gray face sporting a large digit LED display. Unfortunately, the LED display was really bright even in the low setting, forcing us to turn the unit slightly to the side so it would not affect us during night time. You can also turn the display off then temporarily turn on the display for about five seconds by pressing the SNOOZE button once. However, it was a lot easier to move the unit the side when we went to bed as opposed to fumbling through settings every time.

The iDesign Cube Clock Radio let's you install a back-up battery (CR-2032 button cell battery) to keep track of your settings and time if the power goes out.

On both sides of the unit a soft fabric hides and protects the stereo speakers. At the top you will find a docking station for your iPod (also works with iPhone by the way, though it is not advertised as such) and the unit's radio, alarm, and play controls. At the back, there are inputs for AC, AM/FM Antenna connections, and auxiliary.

The AM/FM features on the iDesign Cube Clock Radio are abysmal. The FM receiver is not very powerful and at my location (even with the use of the included FM Pigtail Antenna), it missed some FM stations other alarm clocks easily pick up. The iDesign Cube Clock also does not have preset buttons for setting your favorite FM/AM stations. Instead, you'll need to press the forward and back buttons to scroll (search) for the stations. This can and will be tedious if you have a variety of FM/AM stations you like to listen to. Clearly this device was made with the iPod in mind.

So how does it fare as an iPod player? It works. You can use the on-board controls to play, pause, and skip songs as you would on your iPod, there is nothing revolutionary here, but it gets the job done. The iDesign Cube Clock Radio does charge your iPod when you plug it into the dock -- a feature that always makes us happy.

As far as sound is concerned, the iDesign Cube Clock iPod/iPhone Radio left a lot to be desired. The speakers felt weak when compared to other alarm clock radio players on the market. There just wasn't a lot of oomph in the sound.

If asthetics are your number one priority, the iDesign Cube Clock iPod Radio is one of the better looking iPod alarm clock radios on the market. However, the AM/FM features on this device seem like after thoughts and the sound quality is very poor. For the asking price of about $100, you could certainly do better.

THE GOOD
- Beautiful compact design
- Nice set of included accessories

THE BAD
- Weak FM receiver
- Below average sound quality
- Lacks features for price point

IN THE BOX
- AM Antenna
- FM Pigtail Antenna
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm Cable
- AC/AC Adapter
- 4 iPod Dock Adapters

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Brookstone

All sippy cups aren't made equal. I can attest that I have tried almost every sippy cup out there with my 18-month old daughter. I have come to the conclusion that the Playtex Sippy Cups are by far the best sippy cups out on the market today. Why you might ask? Well its simple, they don't leak and my daughter doesn't turn blue when she is drinking her milk.

The cups are BPA-free so they are safe for your little one. They have built in handles that are great tiny hands and they come in a wide variety of colors and designs so you have a choice of which one you like better.

The Playtex Sippy Cups are well built. My daughter drops them all the time from her high chair and I have yet to see any of them break.

We did not like two things about the Playtex Sippy Cups: they do not have a lid and they do not have markers for ounces.

THE GOOD
- Does not leak
- Variety colors
- Inexpensive

THE BAD
- No lids
- No markers for ounces

IN THE BOX
- Sippy cup

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Playtex

Going out to dinner with the kids? Make sure you pick up a Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat. It's a little apparatus that will help you keep germs away from your little one -- no more eating off the restaurant table. The placemat is made of a soft rubber that can be rolled up for easy storage. It stays on the table by using small suction cups that do an outstanding job at gripping to virtually any surface. However, we did notice the product had a little bit of a problem adhearing to mesh tables or tables with holes.

The Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat also has a little sleeve on the side that overhangs from the table to catch any food that rolls off. This will keep your baby dry in the event of a spill.

Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat comes in a variety of colors and designs and sells for approximately $9.99.

THE GOOD
- Soft rubber can be easily folded
- Easily fits in diaper bag
- Easy to clean
- Keeps your child from getting dirty
- Powerful suction cups

THE BAD
- Won't stick to mesh tables or tables with holes

IN THE BOX
- 1 Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Placemat

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Kiddopotamus

If you want to get something for someone that has everything this Christmas, but haven't found anything, take a look at the Cinemin.

Since we weren't able to get our hands on one of these to do a full review, we went out to our nearest Brookstone store and had the manager give us a demo. This little thing is amazing.

The image is very good and can be projected on pretty much anything. It uses Texas Instruments' DLP projection technology to do its magic and we recommend a white surface to project onto. The uses for this little guy are endless: you can project onto the wall to show friends and family a slideshow, YouTube videos, presentations, and so forth. You could even watch a movie on the ceiling of your room while you are on your way to catch some Z's. Honestly the gadget is pretty cool. The image was a little dim when we saw the demo, but it was probably due to the bright lights in the room. The Cinemin Projector can be used with portable media players, pretty much any apple product from the i family (iPhone, ipod), Flip Video, PSP, digital cameras, portable DVD players, netbooks, notebooks, and smartphones with video-out functionality. One thing to caution: the screen wouldn't project what was on the iPhone screen as we were going through the menus. It basically only works for pictures, movies, and presentations on the iPhone.

The Cinemin Projector has a resolution of 480 x 320 (HVGA). Its 90 degree swivel allows you to use it pretty much anywhere without using anything to prop it up. The Swivel can project a 60-inch image from over eight feet away.

This mini projector has a built-in speaker with adjustable volume and a headphone jack. The audio from the projector through the built-in speakers was decent, but if you have a large crowd you will probably want to connect your own powered speakers. The batteries should last up to two hours and are rechargeable.

Although the Cinemin Projector is a bit pricey at $299, we are sure that its usefulness outweighs the price.

THE GOOD
- Has many uses
- Multiple AC plugs allows for international use
- Small package delivers big image
- Can be used with multiple devices

THE BAD
- Battery life seems a little low
- A little dimmer than we expected
- Pricey
- Can't be used to scroll through iPhone menus

IN THE BOX
- AC/DC power adapter
- Power plugs for North America, UK, Europe, and Australia
- USB (A) to mini USB (B-5 pin) cable
- USB (A) to mini USB (B-4 pin) cable
- 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable
- AV composite to 3.5 mm cable
- Battery
- Padded soft case with Velcro flap
- Quick start guide.

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
WowWee